NoWait launches intelligence feature for restaurant management

Oct. 11, 2013

iPad-based waitlist and seating management service NoWait has released a new artificial intelligence feature for restaurant management. According to a news release, this is the first tool of its kind to market and it includes a proprietary algorithm that predicts an accurate wait for a party that would like to be seated.

The algorithm takes into account the current wait list, the flow of the people through the restaurant and the historical data of that restaurant. In test, wait times quoted by the algorithm were more reliable than average quoted wait times calculated by the restaurant host, the company said.

"Being able to quote wait times more accurately makes our customers happier and makes it easier for us to run our restaurant efficiently," said Jimmy Kuhl, general manager of Burgatory, a Pittsburgh burger restaurant.

NoWait also has two patents pending that focus on the intersection of guest engagement, location and wait time quoting that will expand the artificial intelligence platform into restaurants.

More than 3,500 restaurants are now using the NoWait restaurant app, including 12 national chains.

"We're growing so quickly in this space because we provide a product and service that offers more to restaurants than just an app," said NoWait CEO Ware Sykes. "We know from our experience and from constant communication with restaurants that the ability to more accurately quote wait times has a huge effect on business and this new feature is taking the guesswork out of this process."